Middle age and having a hard time keeping up with fashion

[Anonymous]

At what age is it ok to just forget about being even slightly fashionable and start wearing old lady clothes? Is 48 too young?
I feel very behind the times when I look at clothing styles online and really just want to keep wearing the same stuff I've been wearing for years.
I first noticed it with running socks. I used to run a lot of races, and always wore "no show" socks with my shoes--and that's what most people wore. I stopped racing with Covid--all the races were cancelled and I just got back into it. A few weeks ago I was looking at some photos from a race online- and I could see their socks! It really surprised me! These were strong athletes, young, fast---and they were wearing socks that showed above their shoes!
So I googled and apparently that's a thing now. Young people nowadays actually wear socks that show.

I don't like it. I don't know how to wear and style these new looks but I also don't want to look like I'm wearing clothes from 8 years ago.
But at a certain age, people just don't expect you to look fashionable, right? Is 48 too young for that?

[Anonymous]

I think 48 is well beyond the time when it is acceptable to say f!ck it, I just wanna be comfortable.

But whether or not that is going to be socially acceptable depends on who you are, your job, your social circles, etc. How you feel about how people perceive you matters, too.

[Anonymous]

Well....I'm 52, and I don't want to look 'old lady' or frumpy, but I'm not 20 either so no crop tops here LOL.

I try to strike a balance and not just give up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Well....I'm 52, and I don't want to look 'old lady' or frumpy, but I'm not 20 either so no crop tops here LOL.

I try to strike a balance and not just give up.

Same. I'm 53.

[Anonymous]

48 as well. It’s funny because I just had this ah ha moment today when I went to TJmaxx and almost all of the tops are missing their bottom halves lol. I don’t care anymore. I’m just gonna stick with what I’ve got which is plenty. I’ve always dressed very basic so it’s one less thing to worry about, right?!

[Anonymous]

I'm 47 and have always just worn what I liked. I liked no show socks before they were popular and harder to find. I have always been a straight leg and boyfriend jean person.

If what I like happens to coincide with what's in fashion then great, but I won't change what I like to do what's in style.

[Anonymous]

I'm 38 and there already. I just have other things I value more for my limited money and time than replacing my wardrobe.

[Anonymous]

I’m just sticking to classics now. I just ordered some black cigarette pants even though pleated wide leg are in. I’m looking for nice classic white blouses. When I get dresses I wear vintage and colorful. I can’t afford to keep up with the trends, although I look ok in them.

[Anonymous]

Classics will always be in.

StitchFix is pretty easy/no brainer if you want to keep updated. I did that during most of my 30s while having babies and not having time to know what was happening with fashion.

I'm now in my 40s and get a kick out of seeing the sock trend at the gym and just tried it myself. Also, as someone who came of age in the stick thin/heroin chic 90s where body shaming was the norm, it's soooo refreshing to see younger generations wearing crop tops and stuff even with a roll hanging out here and there. It makes me brave enough to try it sometimes at the gym.

[Anonymous]

It’s fine to do this, but know that it’s going to seriously age you. 48 is still quite young. I’m 46 and nowhere near going gently into that Eileen Fisher.

[Anonymous]

You can be 9/10 comfortable existence with a good 6/10 wrapping but if you want wrappings to look 9/10, you'll have to be okay with being 6/10 comfortable. Either is fine, no one over 50 can be 10/10 in either, unless you have a team of professionals working on you 24/7 like you are J Lo getting ready for next wedding goen.

[Anonymous]

op - i think the trick is to find the up to date styles that actually work for you and make your lift better.
I am 46 and have REALLY struggled with the mom jean thing (still do not understand what shoes except stilettoes to wear with them), hate all the normcore stuff and cannot imagine ever wearing crocs with socks. BUT I have totally embraced the white nike tube sock look (no more cold ankles in winter!) and bought myself a ton of beige and cream hoodies, a long puffa - really loving the chunky sweater/ cardigan vibe, the many necklace and earring thing AND the big t shirt thing.
find what works for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s fine to do this, but know that it’s going to seriously age you. 48 is still quite young. I’m 46 and nowhere near going gently into that Eileen Fisher.

This made me laugh.

I’m 52 and look a a fair bit younger. I was always particular about my clothes until Lockdown. All that time in athleisure and pajamas has been difficult to bounce back from. I’m just so much less invested.

However, I had my last child quite late, so I’m back to elementary school and need to hang out with 35 year olds. I need to look decently put together for DC’s sake. I have always leaned to classic, quality things that fit well. I think I would look silly in head to toe Gen Z, but adding a few current seasonal pieces is fine.

[Anonymous]

You get to decide, OP, so anytime you want. But reading your post, you sound more conflicted about it. If you were ready to say f-it, then you wouldn’t care if your clothes looked 8 years old. So first you should decide whether you care and if so, how much.

[Anonymous]

I really don’t understand what’s in style for jeans. Can someone post a photo of a middle aged looking person wearing trendy jeans? Do they hit your shoes? How wide are they at the bottom? Hahaha I feel like a loser even posting this